DAN MORGENSTERN REMEMBERS STAN GETZ (March 3, 2017)

This is the sixth part of a series of video-interviews the irreplaceable Dan Morgenstern sat for on the afternoon of Friday, March 3, 2017. The previous five parts can be found here.

In those segments, Dan shares remarkable stories about the people he’s heard and met and become close with: everyone, including Lester Young, Jimmy Rowles, Tony Fruscella, Tommy Benford, Brew Moore, John Carisi, Nat Lorber, Coleman Hawkins, Jimmy Rushing, and two dozen more.

Here he speaks lovingly of the magnificent Stan Getz — including an anecdote of one way to deal with noisy spectators at a jazz club:

I would have you notice — as well as Dan’s eye for the telling detail (that quality that makes great storytellers as well as novelists) — that even his retelling of incidents that might be painful is shot through with kindness. These interviews are not a settling of scores; rather, they are graceful homages to the giants and friends he has known — and Dan continues to make friends in 2017.

Here, for those who have other thoughts about Stan, a sweet yet little-known 1954 performance by him, Jimmy, Bob Whitlock, and Max Roach, of the early-Thirties song, DOWN BY THE SYCAMORE TREE:

Dan refers to Stan’s PARKER 51:

and one of Stan’s duets with Kenny Barron at the end of his life:

I look forward to a second set of interviews. Dan has hinted that he has tales of Cecil Scott. Who could resist such knowledge?

6 responses to “DAN MORGENSTERN REMEMBERS STAN GETZ (March 3, 2017)”

Thanks for more from the always captivating Dan Morgenstern. He is a master story-relater. Getz was a great saxophonist poet and the three videos you played were magnificent. From the one and only Jimmy Rowles to my favorite be-bop pianist, Al Haig to the still-with us Kenny Baron a parade of my favorite favorite guitarist,Jimmy Raney. Many kudos to Dan and yourself,Michael. I hope there’s more to come.

I have listened to two of Mr. Morgenstern’s interviews and found them enjoyable. When I was 11, I went to hear Louis Armstrong perform at Boston’s Symphony Hall (1947). Although I love Louis, my primary reason for going was to see and hear Sid Catlett. I thought he and Dave tough were the end-all when it came to drummers. I first saw Stan Getz at Boston’s Storyville club in 1951. I thought his band at the time was incredible! The Blue Rhythm Band recording Dan refers to is a rare 78, which I have plus an LP issue. Getz was a magnificent player. In 2013, I visited Spain and Portugal and for 34 days drove around listening to a Getz CD set I brought with me.